A morphology scan is an exciting and important part of pregnancy care, usually performed between 20 – 22 weeks. It provides a detailed look at your baby’s development, checking everything from major organs to limb growth and placenta health. The morphology scan will also look at your cervix.

Many parents have questions about what to expect, including how accurate the scan is, whether it can detect all abnormalities, and if it will reveal the baby’s gender.

You might also wonder what happens if the baby is in a difficult position, whether you can bring a support person, or if additional scans might be needed.

In this fact sheet, we’ll answer these common questions so you can feel prepared and confident for your upcoming scan:

1. What happens during a morphology scan?
2. Can a morphology scan detect everything?
3. Will my morphology scan show my baby’s gender?
4. How accurate is a morphology scan?
5. The difference between a morphology scan and other pregnancy scans
6. Can I bring someone to my morphology scan?
7. What if my baby is not in a good position for the scan?

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What Happens During a Morphology Scan?

During a morphology scan, you’ll lie on an examination bed while the sonographer applies a warm ultrasound gel to your abdomen. This helps the ultrasound probe move smoothly and capture clear images. The scan is painless, though you may feel some light pressure as the sonographer moves the probe around to check different areas.

The sonographer will carefully examine your baby’s major organs, limbs, spine, brain, and face. They will also check the cervix, placenta, umbilical cord, and amniotic fluid levels to ensure everything is developing as expected. If the baby is in a difficult position, you may be asked to shift positions or take a short walk to encourage movement.

The scan usually takes 45 minutes, but this can vary depending on a variety of reasons such as fetal position or if there were any concerns visualised during the scan. If clear images aren’t obtained, you may need a follow-up scan. While the sonographer can explain what they’re looking at, the final report is sent to your doctor.

Can a Morphology Scan Detect Everything?

A morphology scan provides a detailed assessment of your baby’s development, but it can’t detect everything. It is primarily used to check for structural abnormalities in major organs, limbs, and the spine. However, some conditions may not be visible at this stage, and certain issues, such as genetic disorders, cannot be diagnosed through ultrasound alone.

If the scan raises any concerns or if the images are unclear, your doctor may recommend follow-up scans or additional tests. This could include another ultrasound at a later stage, a fetal echocardiogram to check the baby’s heart, or more advanced testing like amniocentesis or NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing) if a genetic condition is suspected.

Results from the scan are performed from highly trained sonographers interpreted by specialist doctors (Obstetric and gynaecology sonologists or Maternal Fetal Medicine specialists).

Will My Morphology Scan Show My Baby’s Gender?

A morphology scan can usually detect your baby’s gender, but it’s not guaranteed. The sonographer determines gender by looking at the baby’s external genitalia on the ultrasound. If the baby is in a good position with clear visibility, gender identification is usually accurate.

However, several factors can affect how well the sonographer can see the baby’s anatomy. Baby’s position, gestational age, amniotic fluid levels, and maternal body composition can all impact clarity. While accuracy is generally high,gender predictions are not 100% certain, due to a variety of reasons.

If the sonographer can’t determine gender, they may suggest waiting until a later scan, such as a growth scan, where gender may be more visible or request that it be checked by the reporting QUFW doctor. Some parents also choose to confirm through non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT). NIPT has a high detection rate for chromosomal abnormalities such as Trisomy 21. As the sex chromosomes are also assessed, gender may also be provided. As this is still only a screening test, correlation of the external genitalia by the ultrasound and the NIPT results is recommended.

Please note, you can choose to wait until birth to discover your baby’s gender! At QUFW, we will not tell you unless you ask or we have checked with you previously.

How Accurate Is a Morphology Scan?

A morphology scan is a highly detailed ultrasound, but it isn’t 100% accurate in detecting all abnormalities. While it provides a thorough check of your baby’s organs, limbs, and overall development, some conditions may not be visible due to the limitations of ultrasound technology.

Several factors can affect the clarity of images, including baby’s position, placenta location, amniotic fluid levels, and larger bodied person. If the baby is facing away or in a difficult position, some areas may be harder to assess, and a follow-up scan may be needed.

Certain conditions only become apparent later in pregnancy as the baby grows. Some heart defects, skeletal conditions, and developmental concerns may not be obvious at 20–22 weeks but could be detected in later scans. If needed, your doctor may recommend additional ultrasounds or further testing to monitor your baby’s health as your pregnancy progresses.

The Difference Between a Morphology Scan and Other Pregnancy Scans

A morphology scan is different from other pregnancy scans because it provides a detailed structural assessment of your baby’s development. Unlike a dating scan, which is done earlier in pregnancy to estimate your due date, the morphology scan checks major organs, limbs, and the placenta to ensure everything is forming as expected. A morphology scan also assesses your cervix.

A growth scan, on the other hand, is typically done later in pregnancy to monitor fetal size, amniotic fluid levels, and placental function, rather than looking for structural abnormalities.

The morphology scan is an important milestone because it can help identify potential abnormalities and provide reassurance that your baby is developing well. It also helps assess the placenta’s position, which is important for planning a safe delivery.

Sometimes, additional scans are needed. If the morphology scan is inconclusive, a follow-up ultrasound may be recommended. Other reasons for extra scans include concerns about baby’s growth, placenta function, or specific medical conditions.

For a more detailed answer to this question, see this blog post here.

Can I Bring Someone to My Morphology Scan?

You are welcome to bring up to two support people to your morphology scan at QUFW, and one of them may be a child. Having a partner, family member, or close friend with you can make the experience more special and provide emotional support.

However, since this is a medical procedure, it’s important that the sonographer can concentrate on capturing accurate images and measurements.

Also, if bringing a child, the second support person should be an adult who can supervise them, as ultrasounds can take time and may not always hold a child’s attention.

If your partner or family member can’t attend, you may consider video calling them briefly during the scan (please ask us beforehand) or sharing images afterward. If you are a surrogate patient, QUFW is happy to discuss your specific needs when booking your appointment.

What If My Baby Is Not in a Good Position for the Scan?

If your baby is not in an ideal position during the morphology scan, the sonographer will try different techniques to improve visibility. They may ask you to change positions, such as rolling onto your side, or they might gently press on your abdomen to encourage movement. Sometimes, a short break, walking around, or drinking cold water can help stimulate the baby to move into a better position.

If the sonographer still can’t get clear images, they may ask you to return for a repeat scan on another day. This is common and doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong—just that the baby wasn’t positioned well enough for a full assessment. Your healthcare provider will let you know if a follow-up scan is needed and what to expect.